Safely here at Casa Batesada

Hola friends and family! If I mix Spanish and English at times it is because my brain is trying to intrepret and it is rusty. Esta bien = It is well or Okay. Our flights and I emphasize flights, were pretty much on time all day Friday and Sat. morning. The amazing blessing was that our bags made it through all the transfers, Seattle to Dallas, Dallas to Boston, Boston to Miami and finally Miami to Santo Domingo. We entered into some extreme loss and sadness in the Dominican COTN family. Several of the staff have lost loved ones in the last week. Please pray for Juanchi and Pablo, prayers for comfort and peace I know would be appreciated in these times of grief. Carly and I are so fortunate that the first team we are working with here is a team of college students from LaTourneau Univ. in Longview, TX. We just got off the Casa roof, a quaint meeting place, where we spent over an hour in praise and affirmations. Their leader, Daniel is a gifted worship leader. The everyone in the group is so special and came with hearts to serve and love on the families in the bateyes. They will be pouring 3 cement floors this week and I will have pictures to post later in the week. Did you ask how's the weather...needless to say we will be guzzling from our water bottles. It is hot, 85 degrees with that special moisture in the air called, humidity. Loving it right now, really. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. There's more to come later in the week. Vic for Carly

Up, up and away

The day is here for our first departure; Carly and I fly out at 11 a.m. Wow! I can't hardly believe this day has finally arrived. It is going to be a long day hopping from airport to airport; first Seattle to Dallas, then Dallas to Boston, then a stop-over in Miami and finally on to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Sleeping in airports has never been, very very good to me....so your prayers would be much appreciated. The photos above will keep me going today. I can't wait to see some of our fantastic translators, see pictured in funny hats. (Joselito, Daniela and Cookie) I also eagerly look forward to seeing the kids again, see photos...Carly with a little boy in her arms...Austin and Jordan working with girls to produce a beautiful mural last summer. Monique is coming next week, as she is staying home to help Ellie in recovery from a tonsilectomy. Ellie is healing and feeling a little better each day. Our Friday Harbor DR team is coming June 23rd and is busy collecting shoes for the guys who will be part of the basketball camp. If you have any athletic shoes in your closet, please consider donating them for our young friends in the Dominican Republic. Call 378-8435 to find out the locations where you can drop them off. We have received so many generous gifts to make this mission trip a reality. Praise God! In addition to financial gifts, my friend Greg Crimp (Sports Cellar Sporting Goods in Coeurd'Alene, ID) has donated two dozen basketballs and a few nets and ball pumps for our camp. This is a tremendous blessing and will make our camp so much better. Well...I've go to go...time to navigate the airport in Seattle... Thanks for your support and prayers...until the next post...maybe from Casa Batesada. Blessings, Vic for Carly

Help...athletic shoes needed

Hello friends! Our team is getting closer to take-off for the Dominican Republic. We have launched a shoe drive locally and hope to take down a pair of slightly used athletic shoes for the teen guys we will be working with during our basketball camp. We did this three years ago, taking shoes and old uniform tops to give away. What an added blessing this was for these young guys. See photos. Could you help us spread the word regarding our shoe drive in Friday Harbor? Shoes can be dropped off at San Juan Fitness, Xtreme Fitness, Friday Harbor High or Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church. Again, a point of emphasis, we need men's athletic shoes, ranging in size from 8-14. Thanks so much from all of us. This is a great way for us on San Juan Island to reach people who live on an island (Hispanola) far far away. This connection has been made over the years and we desire to involve more people and keep it going.

Thousands and Thousands of Free Throws

Free throws were raining down through the baskets Saturday March 17th and for our team, the percentages of made baskets was more attributed to skill than luck, even though it was St. Patrick's Day. (-: Great job of shooting team and it was all for the sake of others, children and young adults in the Dominican Republic. Our free throw-a-thon was quite a beautiful family affair. Dad's, mom's, sisters and brothers came out to help our team members complete the challenge of shooting 1,000 free throws. What a great day! See the following photos of the Wood's family, Cooper-West family, the Hauck's, the Scheffers and the Turnbull's hooping it.

Free Throw-a-thon for Kids

Here is a snapshot of some of the 2012 COTN Hoop Camp team. All of us couldn't make it for the photo. We are missing: Carly Woodward, Fred Woods, Austin Scheffer, Otis Cooper-West and Isaiah Hauck. We will take another team picture soon with everyone. Pictured are: Lizzy Starr, Monique Woodward, Ellie Woodward, Collin Williamson, Vinnie Carter, Vic Woodward, Mandy Turnbull and C.J. Woods. We are having a Free Throw-a-thon, every team member is shooting 1,000 free throws on March 17th at Friday Harbor's Turnbull Gym, seeking to raise funds for our short term mission trip to the Dominican Republic. We are asking for pledges per made free throw.

My partner, see photo, Lizzy Starr and I expect to blow the other team members away. (-: We all need your help. Sponsor a shooter today! Proceeds go towards our travel costs and to support young people in the Dominican Republic through Children of the Nations. All giving is tax deductible. Call (360) 378-8435 to find out how you can sponsor someone on our team.

Planning for the summer of 2012 in the Dominican Republic has begun and a basketball camp/clinic is in the works. This is where our initial journey began with Children of the Nations 4 years ago and because the young guys in the bateys have been asking us to do another camp...here we go again. God is stirring some high school basketball players and others to join us during the week of June 23-July 1st. This short term team will help with the camp and lay cement floors for several families who are in desperate need.

Pictures of this team will be forth coming soon. Monique and I are going to be hosting teams at Casa Batesada again for Children of the Nations. Our stay will be from around June 9-July 10th this summer. Stay tuned...more news coming soon.

community...church...Altagracia

This summer we spent quite a bit of time with a community called Altagracia. It is located about 10-15 minutes outside of Barahona. We would call it a village, but in the Dominican, these particular villages are called bateyes. The people who live in Altagracia are of primarily Hatian desent and live in poverty. Children of the Nations serves the children in this bateye, providing education, spiritual direction, health care and family support. In the photos above, you will meet Wilson, Manuel (pictured with Vic) and Yelin (pictured with Carly). These three young men, in their early 20's, are leading this community spiritually in the way of Jesus. (see group photos) They have stepped out in faith to lead courageously ever since their pastor died unexpectedly four months ago. The community of Christ followers (church) is a small group made of predominately of young people and children. There are a few adults, but not many. Each Sunday, Yelin teaches the children Bible stories from the life of Jesus and others. It is a precious sight to see the children gathered around Yelin each Sunday morning. Manuel and Wilson teach and share truth with the adults and teens. It is beautiful to see this team of young guys share the love of Christ with their community. Wilson is also principal of COTN's pre-school - kindergarten program in Altagracia. He and Manuel also attend university in Barahona. Yelin is also taking classes. They need our support. Learn more about the mission of COTN and the Dominican Republic from this website - http://cotni.org You can also donate to this mission here. We, the Woodwards, have a special place in our hearts for this community and these young men. We love them! Please join us in prayer for Altagracia, specifically Manuel, Wilson and Yelin.